Search - Schumann, Licad :: Carnaval / Papillons

Sweet and Electrifying Schumann!

John S. Boyajy | Novato, CA United States | 02/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This review is only of the Papillons, which I heard on my car stereo on KDFC, Northern California's only remaining major classical music station.



A spellbinding performance grabs your attention from the first few seconds. Because I tuned in immediately after the start, I missed the initial announcement and immediately set to trying to figure out who the pianist might be. I was impressed with the excellent balance, flawless finger and octave work and beautiful tone, all of which spoke of a first-class technician. Then came the abundant musical treats. Phrases were shaped naturally and exquisitely, never mechanically. There was always a wonderful sense of freedom built into the more lyrical passages. In fast sections such as Nos. 4, 6, 8, and especially in big chord and octave work (especially repeated octaves), there was a depth to the tone and an electricity to the delivery that caused me, several times during the performance, to raise my right fist in the air and say, loudly, "Yes! Yes!!" with no concern whatsoever about what the drivers around me might have been thinking.



Like so many of Schumann's large piano cycles, such as the Humoresque, Fantasy, Carnaval (also on this CD) and Davidsbuendlertaenze, it is by no means easy to get these large, unwieldy works to hang together. I feel Ms. Licad did this with great success. While she created abundant contrast between the sections (which was, after all, Schumann's intention and desire), the performance constantly held my interest and attention. In other words, there was always plenty of forward motion.



Given the quality of my decade-old car stereo and the fact that I was not in the best geographical area for good reception, it is amazing that all these qualities came out nonetheless. I thoroughly enjoyed this performance in every respect and was surprised when the announcer stated that it was Licad, not all of whose playing I have always resonated with in the past. I have sometimes found her performances to be technically perfect but a bit cold. Here, she seems to be digging back into her Romantic lineage (she studied, among other teachers, with Mieczyslaw Horszowski, who was one of the great Theodore Leschetitzky's last students) and coming up with a real winner.



The rating of five stars is, obviously, for the Papillons, which is the only one of the pieces on the CD that I heard. I can only assume that the other two performances, even if they were not at the same high level as this one (and there's nothing to indicate they wouldn't be), warrant serious attention. The CD is absolutely worth buying for this performance alone."

A breathtaking interpretation of Schumann

V. Reyes | San Diego, CA USA | 12/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Miss Licad plays Schumann's "Carnaval" with conviction. Every single note

she plays seems to convey meaning and color. It is a pleasure to listen

to her wide dynamic range and exquisitely colored phrasing. This is

highly intellectual, but by no means mechanical, rendition by Miss

Licad. Her rendition of "Toccata" is masterful, yet delicate; compared

to Vladimir Horowitz's rendition of the same piece, Miss Licad's is much

more eloquent, while Mr. Horowitz's, although technically superb,

sounds neurotic, even psychotic. If there is a single flaw in this

recording, I would say it is in the "Papillons", where some distracting

overtones can be heard, which might be due either to faulty sound

engineering or idiosyncratic pedalling by Miss Licad.





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